It’s the time of year to reflect on the past and look to the possibilities of the future. As I write this blog on New Year’s Eve, I’ve thought a lot about the types of resolutions I’d like to make to be a better version of myself. Will I stick to each one? I hope so, but I’m also realistic and know that some will fall through the cracks. Sharing some of my professional resolutions in a public forum will hopefully help me achieve my goals… time will tell. 

2024 Resolution #1

To begin, I’d like to be more consistent with my Online Learnings’ blog. I feel so good when I post a new blog, yet I haven’t made time for writing, one of my favorite activities. Writing this blog is something I enjoy, so why haven’t I made it a priority? I’ll start small by creating a new writing schedule for myself. 

Making a goal achievable should begin with action steps, a way to make the goal possible. Setting aside a time to write each day will be a part of my daily schedule. The weekends will be optional, but I can set a time to write every morning during the work week. I’ll begin with just ten minutes each day because I know I can keep this schedule. Once I get into the rhythm, I’ll be able to add more minutes, and hopefully, produce blogs every 7 to 10 days, which is another goal of mine. How do I hold myself accountable? I’m going to keep a tracker on my iPad and tell family members about my plan. Keeping track and telling others about my goals will increase my chances of success. 

Resolution #2

In my professional life as an instructional designer, I want to continue learning more about artificial intelligence and how it can help instructors create amazing courses and students engage in significant learning. We all have a lot to learn about AI, and it will be interesting to see what 2024 will bring. Will instructors begin to embrace AI? Will it become embedded in our everyday tasks? Will students use it to assist them in their learning? 

Of course I’m hoping for the best with AI. The technology is rapidly progressing and it can be difficult to stay on top of the changes. At times I feel overwhelmed; it seems impossible to learn it all, but reading an article or watching the latest video 3 or 4 times each week will help me continue to progress. 

Along with seeking out and reading the latest articles, I want to use AI more in my everyday tasks. And, while I feel confident in my knowledge of ChatGPT, I’m eager to delve deeper into other AI technologies like Claude and Bard. Exploring their functionalities will not only broaden my expertise but also open new possibilities in my teaching and instructional design projects. 

Measurable?

How will I know if my AI resolution is achieved since it’s not really a measurable goal? While goals should be measurable, I’d like for my goal of learning more about AI to be charted through my writing, teaching, and designing. I will begin by keeping a log of the articles and videos I’m reading and watching. I’ll include the link of the article or video and write a brief summary for each. I’ve been collecting articles over the past year, but I don’t always create the time to read each one. Writing brief summaries and playing with AI technologies will increase my knowledge base, which will begin to show in my work. It already has to some degree, but I’m ready to do more and share more of what I learn and how I use these technologies.

Learning Goals

Include a learning goal as one of your resolutions. Creating a goal that involves learning something new, like my AI goal, is a fun way to keep progressing and improving. If you’re a parent, showing your kids that you’re still a learner is an excellent demonstration of the importance of lifelong learning. If you want to climb the ladder at work, share a new skill at a party, or just challenge yourself, create a resolution that involves learning. Noone regrets learning something new, so pick a topic and start exploring. Begin with just 5 minutes each day. We can all afford 5 minutes out of our day, so set a reminder on your phone and begin. 

More writing, more blogs, and more usage of AI seem to be the main resolutions for my professional side. I know many people don’t believe in making resolutions and many break them within the first week; however, I’ve always loved the idea of a fresh start, a new beginning. It doesn’t have to be on January 1st each year; it can be the start of a new week or month, really any day can be a do over. I’m going to get started tomorrow and let you know about my progress every few months. You’ll know whether I’m producing more blogs, but I’ll keep you updated on my progress with AI. Feel free to post a comment about one of your resolutions and how you plan to achieve it.